A look at two sporting couples
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, The Boar Sport is spotlighting two sporting couples that are united by their shared love for their respective sports.
Jason and Laura Kenny
Perhaps Great Britain’s most successful sporting couple is Sir Jason and Dame Laura Kenny, who married in 2016 after meeting as part of Team GB’s Olympic cycling teams. The pair have two sons, as well as a daughter on the way, which they announced over Instagram on New Year’s Day. They are the most decorated Olympic couple, sharing 15 medals between them.
Of their 70 shared major medals, 42 belong to Laura Kenny, who became the first British woman to win gold at three separate Olympic games, in 2012, 2016, and finally in 2020. She debuted during the 2012 Olympics, completing the team pursuit and omnium double, taking gold in both, and matched this achievement at her next games, once again taking the top step of the podium.
During her final games, she earned her fifth gold medal in the Madison, as well as silver in the team pursuit – this being the first time she had entered an Olympic event and not won gold. These achievements make her one of the only British females (besides equestrian, Charlotte Dujardin) to have won multiple medals at three successive games. This is yet another accolade to add to her long list of successes, the most impressive being the title of Team GB’s most successful female Olympian.
Her husband can match most of these achievements, including the title of most decorated Team GB Olympian. Jason Kenny has earned 28 major medals, including 7 golds across 3 Olympics, as well as two silvers. His success in Tokyo meant that he surpassed Sir Chris Hoy as holder of the most gold medals for Team GB, before retiring after that year’s games, just four years before his wife announced her retirement, pre-Paris 2024.
Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis
Another notable sporting relationship is footballing duo Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis, who first became a couple during the pandemic, and announced their engagement in November 2023, after taking to Instagram with a picture of Mewis showing off a ring. In November of the next year, the pair also announced they were expecting their first child, with Mewis again choosing to take to Instagram to show off her bump.
As Australia’s record goal scorer, Sam Kerr needs little introduction. The Chelsea striker has 5 WSL titles under her belt, as well as 3 FA Cups, 2 League Cups and 1 Community Shield. In June last year, she signed a 2-year contract extension with the West London club, however, has not played since due to a knee ligament injury.
Mewis began her career in the States but has since moved to London and transferred to WSL side West Ham, in order to be closer to Kerr. Mewis has 53 international caps for the US Women’s National team and formed part of the Olympic squad that achieved bronze in Tokyo. Her international achievements also include 3 wins in the ‘She Believes’ Cup. She joined West Ham from NJ/NY Gotham FC in December 2023, after having triumphed in the NWSL that same year.
The pair’s romance first sparked rumours at the Tokyo games, after an intimate moment was shared following a match between the United States and Australia in which Mewis’ squad was triumphant. A week later, the couple took to social media to confirm their relationship, and after several years of long-distance travel which followed suit, the pair now happily reside in London.
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